Poetry+for+Literacy


 * TEN PERFORMANCE POETRY STARTERS**

A highly effective approach to all forms of verse is Performance Poetry. Here are ten Performance Poetry starters.

The teacher says a line or phrase, while acting it out. The students mimic and echo.
 * 1 Mimic and Echo**

Replace a word in the poem with a corresponding sound effect. For example, in the line 'a dog is a dog' perform as 'a woof! is a woof!'
 * 2 Sound Effect**

Select a student to 'star' as a fun character from the poem. For example, in the poem 'Megabyte, My Taniwha' select a student to play the monster food which Megabyte gobbles up.
 * 3 Starring Role**

On a given cue (an 'invisible microphone' works particularly well) the audience say the refrain. This can be as simple as a single word. For example, in the poem 'Dino-dird' the refrain could be the word 'Archaeopteryx' which repeats at the end of each of the four stanzas.
 * 4 Audience Refrain**

Get the genders outperforming each other for volume. The loudest performers are the champions. A single word at the end of alternating stanzas. For example, the word 'twitter' and 'tweet' in the poem 'Online Babysitters'.
 * 5 Split Refrain**

Performers present the poem and cue the audience to join in on the chorus.
 * 6 Performers and Chorus**

The performers provide a brief interlude of action. For example, for the line 'Trampoline Jean, Trampoline Jean...' the performers bounce up and down. For the line 'the rain is pounding out a beat' the performers drum on the floor.
 * 7 Matching Action**

In the rondeau 'On Spaceship Earth' the title line repeats three times. Introduce three cues for loud, medium, and soft (hold the 'invisible microphone' high in the air, at waist height, at knee height) and the line is said at that volume.
 * 8 Modulated Refrain**

Mime is ideal for a reflective, evocative poem. The performers can move silently, or form a tableau (freeze frame).
 * 9 Mime**

Have two groups of performers deliver the same line with different emphasis. For example, 'because I'm just SOOOO popular!' versus 'because I'M just so POPULAR!'
 * 10 Contrasting Emphasis**